No new taxes scheduled for Pamlico property owners

By Charlie Hall, Sun Journal Staff

Published: Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 03:40 PM.

Projected revenues include $9.5 million in tax collections, about $250,000 more than this year.

Buck presented a list of major changes that included a $90,000 increase in Pamlico County Board of Education funding; a $24,000 increase in health insurance for county employees; a $16,000 increase for Pamlico Community College; and $150,000 for county buildings repair and equipment.

Buck said sales tax projections are up 3 percent, about $74,000.

Revenues from leasing jail beds remain the same, at $700,000.

County employees are scheduled for a 3 percent cost of living hike, the first such raise for 150 workers since 2008-09. Including benefits, its totals $169,000.

The budget allocates $100,000 in courthouse structural repairs; $8,000 for bullet-proof vests; an $11,500 payment on a new VIPER communication system; and $31,000 for a sheriff’s department patrol car.

Education — public schools and Pamlico Community College — lead the budget spending at $3.8 million total.

BAYBORO — Pamlico County property owners will see no change in the current property tax rate for the coming year, pending approval of a balanced $15.9 million budget presented to the county commissioners Monday night.

Residents also will see no change in current water rates.

The 62.5 cents per $100 valuation rate remains intact after commissioners completed work on a budget that included slicing $2.1 million off new requests from its own county department heads and outside agencies, including schools. That work has been ongoing since January.

The county spending plan goes before a public hearing June 17, and the seven-member commissioners could vote on approval that night.

County Manager Tim Buck presented the final draft budget Monday night, which includes $220,000 from the county’s unallocated fund balance. The county budget has been balanced with county savings each of the past two years, although no withdrawal from that account has been necessary.

Buck said he was confident the current budget year spending, which ends June 30, would again be balanced without using fund balance.

The county tax base is $1.6 billion, about $1.5 billion being in property.

Projected revenues include $9.5 million in tax collections, about $250,000 more than this year.

Buck presented a list of major changes that included a $90,000 increase in Pamlico County Board of Education funding; a $24,000 increase in health insurance for county employees; a $16,000 increase for Pamlico Community College; and $150,000 for county buildings repair and equipment.

Buck said sales tax projections are up 3 percent, about $74,000.

Revenues from leasing jail beds remain the same, at $700,000.

County employees are scheduled for a 3 percent cost of living hike, the first such raise for 150 workers since 2008-09. Including benefits, its totals $169,000.

The budget allocates $100,000 in courthouse structural repairs; $8,000 for bullet-proof vests; an $11,500 payment on a new VIPER communication system; and $31,000 for a sheriff’s department patrol car.

Education — public schools and Pamlico Community College — lead the budget spending at $3.8 million total.

The county will spend $3.4 million on public safety and $3 million goes to Social Services.

Buck also gave the county water fund budget, which is $2.9 million, adjusted with $124,000 in retained earnings and $500,000 from capital reserves and fund balance.

There will be no increases in any water fees.

The budget and summary are available at the county manager’s office in Bayboro and also on the county web site: http://pamlico.nc.us/

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or charlie.hall@newbernsj.com.